Abstract for CNVC00011

Forest
Forêt

Tsuga mertensiana - Chamaecyparis nootkatensis / Vaccinium alaskaense / Coptis aspleniifolia

Mountain Hemlock - Yellow-cedar / Alaskan Blueberry / Fern-leaved Goldthread
Pruche subalpine - Cyprès jaune / Airelle d'Alaska / Coptide à feuilles d'asplénie

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The subalpine CNVC00011 is endemic to elevations between approximately 500 and 1100 mASL in wet hypermaritime climates of coastal British Columbia, including Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands). Topopositions tend to be middle to upper slopes and gently rolling ridges or saddles where imperfectly to poorly drained mineral soils, and similarly drained upland organic veneers over bedrock are typical. This low productivity, scrubby forest association is codominated by mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) and yellow-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis), often with western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). In addition to tree regeneration, the shrub layer is mostly red huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium), oval-leaved blueberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium), and Alaskan blueberry (Vaccinium alaskaense). The herb layer is sparse, especially on Haida Gwaii where there is intensive deer browsing. The most common bryophytes are lanky moss (Rhytidiadelphus loreus), green peat moss (Sphagnum girgensohnii) and Bolander's earwort (Scapania bolanderi).

 Factsheet